Kashmir region registers 40% decline in fruit exports

There has been 40 percent decline in the export of Kashmiri fruits to other states of the country si…

There has been 40 percent decline in the export of Kashmiri fruits to other states of the country since the entire valley was thrown into a state of political uncertainty this August. According to reports, some 10,000 trucks carrying around 10 million boxes of fruits plucked from the orchards of Kashmir have been sent to outside markets by the traders, despite threats to farmers and businessmen.

Reports said the figure is around 40 percent less than what has been the trend at this time of year in past years. Despite heavy restrictions and mobile and internet shutdown, trucks carrying Kashmiri fruit moved on the highway since August 5 when clampdown was imposed in Kashmir after scrapping of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution.

In August, 3,660 trucks carrying apples were sent outside Kashmir markets and for September the number stood at 6,506. According to the official data, around 500 apple trucks moved out of Valley till last month while last year it was over 1,000.

These trucks are operating outside the main fruit markets of Kashmir as the main markets of Sopore, Srinagar, Shopian and Anantnag are mostly closed. The traders are not sending their produce to these markets as apple traders were caught in a fix last month when Government asked them to operate the fruit markets during the day and militants asked them to operate during night.